How come Anton du Beke has survived the strictly cull of pro dancers these last few years??

He's very popular.

Whilst I agree with consensus that his latin is not up to scratch it makes it special that we still have him and Brendan as the original pros which gives the show that past context of where/when it started and how it has progressed. It will be sad when we no longer have either of them.

^ oh no he isnt...

the bbc in their peculiar way for judging the public all wrong think the public like him.

but we don't.

Really needs to up his game this year. He looked bored and disinterested last year.

I really like Anton's ballroom dancing. I'll admit his Latin isn't up to scratch, but his ballroom is fab.

I think this might be one thing the BBC is right about. As much as most people on here dislike him, when talking to Strictly fans in the real world, who don't take it quite so seriously, they all love him. A lot of people find him funny and (Laila aside) he always seems to give his celebs a great, fun experience. I don't remember seeing any of his celebs in tears with angst over their performances, which could be one of the reasons why a lot of celebs say they would like to dance with him, whether his latin dancing is brilliant or not.

I assume you are using the royal 'we'.

I cannot stand Brendan Where's the Camera Cole.

I like Anton though.

Well i haven't seen much of Brendan as i started watching SCD since last season only and i agree his partnership with Sunetra was so DULL! He seemed least bothered and bored about everything! I also find him kinda annoying!

no, just me.


and everyone else who doesn't like him.



but not counting you.

I don't even like Anton ..nor do i find him funny (though he tries too hard to be).

It really wasn't a vintage year for Brendan; after coming 4th with Sophie (his best celeb for years) the year before, I think he viewed Sunetra as a huge step down. Which is a shame, because Sophie's absolutely incredible Week 2 Charleston aside, I didn't actually think there was much difference in quality of dancing between the two.

I agree - with my Real Life Strictly Focus Group he's one of two pros that they can all name (the other is Brendan) and they either like or don't mind him. I know on here we talk about 'popular' pros but my RLSFC (unbeknowing) members struggle with the others. One had just got Artem sorted (or him with the teeth) and he left.

I think Anton's great; he makes me laugh when he always trains in the VTs wearing a tie and a pullover

For me it just seems that he's going through the motions year after year. It can't be a coincidence that every celeb he gets is pretty rubbish right? It must come down to his teaching!! If he spent less time preening and grinning inanely at the camera maybe he would get a better result.

I like Anton . His ballroom is superb even if his latins aren't .
He tries hard to adapt to his mostly awful partners and never takes himself seriously .
Brendan grinds my gears, much too high an opinion of himself and too keen to be mouthy for camera time . I disliked him most with Sunetra. I thought she had great potential and worked hard, yet Brendan seemed irritated by her and seemed to lack commitment to her. There was just something going on between them that was very negative but they were trying to keep at bay . My partner doesn't watch strictly too much , but even he said to me "He is not keen on her and she is terrified of him" , which summed it up for me .

He's happy to have the middling to poor dancers and makes their time in show fun. SCD is an entertainment show and many viewers like to see dancers enjoying themselves. Some of the more competitive dancers don't have the same enthusiastic approach to the poorer dancers.

I thought him having to fit the training in with Casualty filming schedule in terms of location / timing was perhaps behind it. Easy for the single dancers but less so with family man.

I find it inexplicable, but to play devil's advocate...
- he fulfils a role, good naturedly steering the wobbly ones round
- he scores well in audience recognition
- he's compliant
- he doesn't give them too many PR headaches (well, not since Laila...)
- his 'comedy' sits well next to the producers' idea of funny if the VTs are anything to go by


I agree. It's always a surprise to me how positive civilian Strictly fans are about these two. Perhaps it's a self-fulfilling prophesy though. If Aljaz or (heaven forfend, Kevin) had been around since the Dawn of Strictly Time, they would be equally recognised and popular.

I sympathise to an extent, but it's the nature of the job. That was Sunetra's one and only time on the show and she deserved a better attitude from Brendan.

I agree with this as well .
He has the right frame of mind to handle the less capable competitors and crafts his routines to not push them too far out of their comfort zone when he knows that there is no chance of them winning anyway .
Of course it's a dance competition and the finalists should reflect that , absolutely , but in the first few weeks it's nice to have a giggle, or roll our eyes or just laugh out loud . Time for the more serious stuff later in the series .

I do.

I absolutely LOVE his ballroom. It has the most wonderful, 'old glamour' panache about it.

So up yours to all his detractors.

Anton is what Strictly is all about for many people. He is the personification of kitsch with a knowing wink: pure Strictly!

Add me to the "I like Anton" list. He makes me laugh too with his wickedly dry sense of humour. The show will be less if he leaves.

I like Brendan too.